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Head to head · Prices checked Nov 13, 2026

Dareu A98 Pro vs Pulsar Xboard QS

Get the Pulsar Xboard QS for knob.

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Quick verdict

Which one should you get?

Get the

Dareu A98 Pro

Build quality in the top 30% of 98% boards under $200.

Rules this board out

  • Compact full-size layout. The numpad is present, the gaps of a full-size board are not.

Get the

Pulsar Xboard QS

Knob

Build quality in the top 25% of 80% boards under $300.

Rules this board out

  • South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
  • No numpad.

What actually differs

The differences that matter

Skip the 40-row spec sheet. These are the specs that change how each board feels, sounds, and fits your desk.

Dareu A98 Pro

Pulsar Xboard QS

  • Layout size

    98%

    80%

  • Connection

    Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired

    Wired

    Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency

  • Case material

    Aluminum, Plastic

    Aluminum

  • Mount style

    Gasket Mount

    Plate Mount

  • Knob

    No

    Yes

KeebFinder scores

How we score
  • Dareu A98 Pro
  • Pulsar Xboard QS
Performance
49
74
Build quality
69
72
Productivity
87
87
Customizability
74
88
Portability
56
60

What they share

  • Hot-swappable
  • Keycaps: PBT
See every spec side by side

Full specs

Dareu A98 Pro vs Pulsar Xboard QS specs

Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.

13 of 24 specs differ

Dareu A98 Pro

Pulsar Xboard QS

Typing & switches

Switch options

Linear
—

Hot-swappable

Yes
Yes

Mount style

Gasket Mount
Plate Mount

Sound dampening

Yes
No

Screw-in stabilizers

Yes
No

Layout

Layout size

98%
80%

Layout standard

ANSI
ANSI

Ergonomics

Standard
Standard

Knob

No
Yes

Display

TFT
None

Connectivity & battery

Connection

Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Wired

Battery

4,000 mAh
Wired only

USB passthrough

No
Yes

USB-C

Yes
Yes

Build & materials

Case material

Aluminum, Plastic
Aluminum

Plate material

—
Plastic

Keycaps

PBT
PBT

Weight

1,200 g
—

Dimensions

37 x 388 x 139 mm
—

Backlight

RGB
RGB, south-facing

Firmware & software

QMK

No
Yes

VIA

No
Yes

Mac & Windows

Yes
Yes

Extras

Released

2022
2024

Where to buy

Compare prices

Live prices from the stores we track, cheapest in-stock offer first.

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Lowest price across stores, Amazon excluded.

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